Pile or timber covering.



T. MORAN.

` PILE 0B. TIMBER GOVEBING. APPLIoATIoN ILED .5211.21.1910.

' Patented Aug. 23'

. Neuron sr fqz@ WW ,Ew

UNITED STATES PATENT' oEEIoE.

THOMAS MORAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA,- ASSIGNOR 0F THREE-FOURTHS TO IIIMSELF AND ONE-EIGHTH TO PHILIP DEIDESHEIMER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALI- FORNIA, AND ONE-EIGHTH TO CASSIUS'E. GILLETTE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- SYLVAN IA.

PILE on TIMBER oovEEING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 191e.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS MoRAN, a citizen of the United States,- residing in the city and county of San Francisco, in the State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pileor Timber Coverings, of which the following is a true land exact description, reference being had to the vaccompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

This invention consists of novel or improved means for protecting wood from the attacks of Xylophagous parasites and hymenomycetous fungi, such as are biologically grouped into families bearin the names of Teredz'n-z'cl, Lz'mnorz'a, hclurz'tl, Lepz'smz'd, Lepadz'ol, Termz'tf, .Polypo1, and other ligniperdous organisms. Especial reference here is had to the larger forms of lumber composing, or embodied in, the diverse structures that are assailed by these lignivorous scourges, whether located upon or below the earths surface, or fixed or floating in or under water, and whether temporarily or permanently exposed.

The invention involves the use of a certain composition of matter peculiarly compounded and applied to the wood to serve as an integument therefor, tightly fitting around or about the same.

The composition which I employ is formed principally of a tripartite asphaltic constituent consisting first of ordinary asphaltum refined to relieve it of all of its most commercially valuable elements or by products, or practically so; second, ordinary asphaltum which, while highly refined, is still somewhat less refined than the first and still retains a set oil and thereby insures 'a better fluxation, resists disseverin and aids in maintaining the intactness ofthe compound; and third, the harder and natively pure asphaltumknown as gilsonite. The gilsonite adds to the density and cohesiveness of the asphaltic constituents, being of finer texture, lighter land tougher, power of penetration when liquefied than the other asphaltic constituents. It acts as a pore Eller and binder in and to the tripar- ^isms, and also to help the and possessed of high tite asphaltic base. With the asphaltic con-` obtained from fiaxseed, the first to render the same obnoxious to the aforesaid organcompound to set, and the second to serve as van amalgamator, and to augment the adhesiveness of the whole mixture. I also prefer to add a small quantity of arsenic for its poisonous effects on the injurious organisms.

The proportions in which I prefer to combine the various constituents enumerated above are hereinafter specified.

The accompanying drawing illustrates what Iare deemed the best methods to follow in covering piies and the woodwork of tunnels, respectively,I with the said composition.

Figure 1 is a partly broken and partly sectioned elevation showing a driven pile.

provided with this improved covering. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the application of the coveringto the timbers of an arch in a tunnel or driftway. Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal section of the sald driven pile on a somewhat enlarged scale. is a' similarly enlarged transverse section of the same. Fig,v 5 is likewise an enlarged cross section of one of the timbers composing the said arch.

Corresponding parts are indicated by the samereference numerals in the several figures. 4

Referring particularly to piles or piling, the aforementioned composition is conve iently and effectively formed and applied thereto by following the divers steps which I will now describe.

The constituents are together in parts byy weight as follows: thirty six and two-thirds parts of :.tsphaltumrefinedl to ninety-five per cent. purity, eighteen and one-third parts of the same mineral ninety per cent. pure, twenty parts of glsonite, fifteen parts of triturated calcium carbonate -or slaked lime Fig. 4S

thoroughly exsiccated, two parts` of arsenic and five parts each of sulfur and linseed oil.

The composition is applied to the logs or piles in this condition and`at the temperature just specified, to form a primary coating thereon about three millimeters in thickness. The pile in the accompanying drawing is indicated by the numeral 1, and 2 designates the said primarycoating. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the coating 2 lies completely within a circumferential groove formed, as at 8, in that part of the pile which extends fromthe ound, wherein it is driven, to a point sllghtly above high water. Such a groove, however, ma be dispensed with and replaced by a single shoulder or enlargement at the lower end of the' coated portion of the pile. It is assumed that the pile is a select stick of timber, stripped of its bark and with its surface freed from rough spots, knots, etc.. The coating is readily applied by passing the pile over the aforesaid receptacle, turning and advancing it as required, 'and laying the composition there-around with any suitable implement. The pile' having received its said primary coating 2, it is next wrapped around with a fabric of woven wire,

as 4, which was previously steeped in the iuidified composition for forty minutes or thereabout, and is fastened upon the coated surface of the pile by means ofgalvanized staples 5. The woven-wire fabric or cloth 4 may be applied either hot or cold. After it is secured in position, a secondary threemillimeter coating of the composition is laid upon it, as at 6, but in this case the tem erature of the composition is materially ower than before, preferably at, or about one hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, the secondary coating @applied at a'reduced temperature, and consequently greaterspissitude, gives body to the protective covering, while the primary causes it to cling hard to the wood, the pores and ibers of which are charged with the thinner flowing composition. This makes a homogeneous structure in which the asphaltic compound preserves the' timber and the wire, while the latter gives the necessary strength.

The mixture of materials set forth gives elasticity and stiffness under a wide range of temperature, density, and resistance to chemical action under marine and other dilicult conditions. The structure and order of application give strength, endurance, and homogeneity. The result is a protection of the timber against the entrance of all inimical organisms and chemical substances,

thereby increasing its durability.

In applying the composition to timbers other than piles, it is not as a rule necessary to use the wire netting, which is therefore omitted from Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawing. It will be suflicient to cover these timbers, such as those of the arch 7 and the like, with one, two, or three coats of the composition, according to environment and investive influences.

A covering of this description is invaluable for structural timber employed in carrying on mining operations, namely, in shafts, inclines, tunnels, driftsV and stopes, and wherever the timber is eX osed to dry rot and premature decay. Bui din timber in eneral, protected b means of t is composltion, w1ll be save from the Merulz'us Zwchrymans or Polyporus hybrz'dus, the termite, the Xylocopa, and analogous organisms. The same is true of naval timber, particularly ship bottoms, of railway sleepers, and other forms ofv lumber too numerous to mention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. The method of protecting wood used for the purpose specified, which consists in rst coating the wood with a composition heated to a temperature in the neighborhood vof 350 degrees Fahrenheit and containing some oil and a calcareous substance, but formed principally of a tripartite asphaltum constituent consisting of asphaltum refined to 95 per cent. purity, asphaltum rened to' 100 90 per cent. purity, and gilsonite, and then applying a second coating of the same composition heated to a temperature of about 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. The method of protecting wood used for the purposes specied, which consists in coating the wood with a composition heatedto a temperature in the nelghborhood of about 350 degrees Fahrenheit and composed V principally of about thirty six parts of asphaltum refined to a purity of 95 per cent., about eighteen parts of asphaltum refined to a purity of 9 0 per cent., about twenty parts of gilsonite, about fifteen parts of calcium carbonate, about tive parts of sulfur, about two parts of arsenic and about ve parts of an oil to improve the adhesiveness of the composition, and then applying a second lcoating of the same composition heated to a temperature in the neighborhood of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. The method of protecting wood used for the purposes specified, which consists in coating the wood with a composition heated to a temperature in the neighborhood of abo'ut350 degrees Fahrenheit and composed principally of about thirty six parts of asphaltum refined to a purity of 95 per cent., about eighteen parts of asphaltum refined to a purit of 90 per cent., about twenty parts of gi sonibe, about fifteen parts of cal-I cium carbonate, about five arts of sulfur for temperature and about ve parts of an oil to improve the adhesiveness of the composition, and then ap lying a second coating of the same com ositlon heated to .a temper- 1o ature in the nelghborhood of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

` lTHOMAS MORAN.

Witnesses:

H. B. DENsoN,

T. A. ALLYN. 

